ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Give voice to breath and turn it into music to tell the life and emotions of people who live with pulmonary arterial hypertension (IAP). This is the goal of “Aria di vita – and is music for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension”, the new awareness campaign promoted by MSD Italia, with the patronage of AMIP – Associazione Malati di Ipertenimento Polmonare e AIPI – Associazione Ipertenzione Polmonare Italiana, presented at the Forum Theatre in Rome. The heart of the project is the unpublished musical composition created by Maestro Enrico Melozzi, cellist, composer and conductor who, through the powerful universal language of music, gives voice to the experiences, thoughts and emotions of people with IAP, transforming the breath into music and music into awareness on pathology. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a rare, progressive and disabling pathology that affects a vital function: breathing. People with IAP live daily with the dispnea, that is the feeling of lack of breath and air hunger. It is estimated that in Italy about 3,500 people live with IAP, mainly women. “Lung arterial hypertension is a condition characterized by an increase in blood pressure in pulmonary arteries with an important overload for the right heart – said Roberto Badagliacca, Associate Professor, Head of UOS Cardiological Intensive Therapy, Department of Mediche and Cardiovascular Sciences, University Sapienza/Policlinico Umberto I- Roma -. Due to its aspecific symptoms, such as dispersion and fatigue, which may be similar to those of other heart or lung diseases, often the diagnosis arrives late (even more than two years after the onset of early symptoms). Hence the importance of early diagnosis that allows patients to be addressed to the Reference Centres to ensure a timely grip and the best therapeutic option for each. In the past, the only option was lung transplantation or heart-pung. Today, instead, we have a wider choice of drugs that improve symptoms, slow progression and increase survival. Many therapies act as vasodilators, while newer drugs act directly on the biological mechanisms at the base of the disease, changing the course, with a significant impact on the Life of People”. An integral part of the “Aria di Vita” campaign were the Associations of ALPPI and AMIP Patients, always alongside People with pulmonary arterial hypertension, who shared the experience of those who live daily with this pathology, so that they turned into musical notes that resonate powerful in the air and invite us to reflect. “Lung arterial hypertension is a pathology that often remains invisible in the eyes of others, but which deeply affects the daily life of patients – said Vittorio Vivenzio, President of AMIP – Association of Diseases of Pulmonary Hypertension -. Initiatives such as this are important because they help to make the disease known, to make the people who live with us less alone and, very important aspect, to talk about it, so that emphasis is placed on the needs of patients, on the need for early diagnosis, timely taking and the most appropriate care.” “For those who, like me, live with pulmonary arterial hypertension, the breath is a daily conquest and the path that goes from the first diagnosis – unfortunately often late – to the care is long and complex – said Marika Gattus, member of the Board of Directors of AIPI – Association of Italian Pulmonary Hypertension ODV -. The Aria di Vita campaign manages to tell all this with great symbolic force, communicating not only the difficulties of this path but also, through a growing emotional involvement, hopeof a better life that comes from the advances of science. It is also an invitation to society to stop, listen and understand what it means to live with pulmonary arterial hypertension.” It is from the deep need of air of people who live with pulmonary arterial hypertension that is born the “Aria di vita” that also gives name to the campaign. The talent of master Enrico Melozzi and his orchestra – breaths, arches and choral voices – gives shape to a music that tells, excites and bare the humanity of each. Listening to it means letting oneself go through, making the heart vibrate and finding sense in the stories that it brings with it.“In recent months, thanks to the Associations of AIPI Patients and AMIP, I had the opportunity to listen to intense, fragile, courageous stories of those who live with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Stories of people for whom every breath is a challenge and daily life an obstacle course. But behind this effort there is also an extraordinary human force – Master Melozzi said –. So I composed this music: for each instrument to tell a shade of life, every voice of the choir a breath of hope. “Aria di vita” is not only a composition, it is an invitation to listen to what is often not seen: the strength of those who face this disease every day. But it is also a message of hope, which resonates in the air to bring Life. I am proud to be part of this campaign and to make available my beloved world of music to bring the audience closer to such an important theme as that of rare diseases.” Education on pathologies, support research and promote prevention are activities at the heart of MSD’s mission, committed to making a difference in People’s Life thanks to the direction to high-value innovation pursued in all areas in which it operates, including Rare Diseases.‘Promoting awareness and correct information activities is one of the fundamental pillars of our Company commitment led by the mission to save and improve the People’s Life. Doing it through powerful and universal channels like that of music is the goal of our campaign “Aria di Vita”, which explores new and emotional languages to give voice to the experiences of those who live with pulmonary arterial hypertension and light the spotlight on this rare, unknown pathology, which has a profound impact on the Life of those who suffer – the words of Nicoletta Luppi, President and CEO Delegata of MSD Italy. When science meets music, a communication that not only informs, but inspires action. Our commitment in the field of Rare Diseases and, specifically, in pulmonary arterial hypertension began more than ten years ago, guided by the constant efforts of a cutting-edge Research, to provide increasingly innovative solutions for Patients who need it. Today, on such a special occasion, which sees joint institutions, associations, scientific community and company, we reaffirm our commitment to ensure that our therapeutic innovation can arrive in a timely, fair and effective way to those who live with this pathology. As MSD we believe that sensitization, research and collaboration with all the “actors” involved in the Health System are fundamental elements to guarantee those who live with IAP not only Life, but also a better Life, to return to these People the breath, to return Life!’. “The Aria di Vita campaign makes visible what is sometimes not – intervention in a video message by Beatrice Lorenzin, former Minister of Health and Senator of the Democratic Party –. We have to work so much on these pathologies, especially on the time of diagnosis that affects the quality of life of patients. It is also necessary to strengthen the competences throughout the territory and to ensure equal access to care, withoutto create differences of life. It is also necessary to simplify bureaucratic procedures: the rehabilitation process cannot be an obstacle course. It is necessary to support clinical innovation and experimentation, so as to improve the path of care and give faster and more effective responses to patients.” During the event, a symbolic installation of the project was also unveiled, the work Note di vita: a great saxophone, one of the main instruments used for the realization of the composition by the Maestro orchestra, made with 3D printing and that will travel in the heart of the cities of Rome, Bologna and Milan. In each stage the public will be able to stop, listen to the musical composition and deepen the knowledge of the pathology, through dedicated information content. From Rome where from 27 to 29 March the great instrument will be visible at Termini Station, in Galleria Gommata, on the side of Via Marsala; it will continue with Bologna from 3 to 5 April at Piazza Galvani and will end with the stop in Milan, from 10 to 12 April, at Piazza Elsa Morante in City Life. The complete track is available on the social channels of MSD Italia and on the dedicated page of the website Informati perlavita.msdsalute.it (www.informatiperlavita.msdsalute.it), where also videos, insights and resources are published to learn more about the disease and support patients in their path.
– photo print office MSD Italia –(ITALPRESS).
